The San Diego-based missile cruiser USS Princeton experienced several small electrical fires on March 12 while it was docked at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, leading nonessential personnel to leave the ship, according to a statement issued Wednesday night by Third Fleet headquarters on Point Loma.
The Navy says the Princeton experienced an “electrical casualty” that produced the isolated fires.
“Out of an abundance of caution, non-essential personnel were asked to leave the ship for safety while the Federal Fire Department was called to assist the crew’s response,” the statement says. “At no point did a major fire break out, and the situation was quickly brought under control with no injuries to personnel.
“Following the event, the electrical casualty was restored, and the ship departed Seal Beach to return to its homeport in San Diego. Princeton has since returned to sea and is currently conducting routine training and operations.”
The Third Fleet suffered a serious fire in July 2020 when a blaze broke out on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego and burned for almost five days, injuring more than 60 sailors and civilians and gutting the ship. The Navy later decided to scrap the $1.2 billion vessel.
The Princeton is one of the Navy’s last remaining Ticonderoga-class cruisers, a ship famed for its advanced ability to spot, track and destroy missiles and aircraft.
The USS PRINCETON (CG-59) one of three active U.S. Navy ships available to tour at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro on Friday, May 26, 2023. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The 37-year-old Princeton is also among the oldest surface warships in the Navy and has been involved in many battle operations, including the 1991 Gulf War, when the cruiser struck two mines in the Persian Gulf, suffering heavy damage. The Princeton also participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Cruisers like the Princeton were designed to serve for 30 to 35 years. The Navy had intended to decommission the ship in 2022, but its service life was extended to the 2026-28 timeframe due to a shortage of combat-ready vessels. The Princeton ended up doing a nine-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific and Middle East that ended last August.